Rubber sleeve core barrel apparatus



June 4, 1963 TAKESHI MORl ETAL 3,092,191

Y RUBBER SLEEVE CORE BARREL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H60. E6. 1a;

INVENTORS 751055; 11402/ 1908527- I. P572525 BENJQM/N L. AUSTIN M ,6 Air-r ENE)- June 4, 1963 TAKESHI MORI ETAL 3,092,191

RUBBER SLEEVE CORE BARREL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 7, 1960 2 R 2 N m, H K

71: 305527 I. PETE/Q5 BEA/JHMl/V L. Husr/ June 4, 1963 TAKESHI MORl EI'AL 3,092,191

RUBBER SLEEVE CORE BARREL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 00 40 E60 4a. F100 46:

June 4, 1963 TAKESHI MORI ETA]. 3,092,191

RUBBER SLEEVE CORE BARREL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 7, 1960 INVENTORS.

751455; M021 4% 08527 1; PETE-E5 BENJAMIN Z. Husr/N United States Patent RUBBER SLEEVE CORE BARREL APPARATUS Takeshi Mori and Robert I. Peters, Salt Lake City, and

Benjamin L. Austin, Ogden, Utah, assignors to Christensen Diamond Products Company, Salt Lake City, Utah,

a corporation of Utah Filed Nov. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 7,797 18 Claims. (Cl. 175-226) The present invention relates to subsurface bore hole equipment, and more particularly to apparatus for securing cores from formations in bore holes.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for producing a core in a bore hole, and for progressively encasing the core in a pliant, elastic sleeve as the core is formed, as within a rubber or rubber-like sleeve, in which the core produced and encased in the elastic sleeve can be of any desired length, depending upon the length of the elastic sleeve itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to be lowered in a bore hole on a tubular drill string for producing and encasing a core in a pliant, elastic sleeve, in which relative feeding of the sleeve into the barrel of the apparatus and around the core is controlled from the top of the bore hole by a device extending from the apparatus through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide rotary coring apparatus adapted to be lowered in a bore hole on a tubular drill string for producing and encasing a core in a pliant, elastic sleeve that is moved into the barrel of the apparatus, as coring proceeds, by a device extending through the drill string to the top of the bore hole, in which the device can be lowered through the drill string to the apparatus after the latter has been lowered to the bottom of the bore hole, and in which the device can be removed through the drill string to the top of the bore hole before the drill string and apparatus is removed from the bore hole.

An additional object of the invention is to provide rotary coring apparatus adapted to be lowered in a bore hole on a tubular drill string for progressively producing and encasing a core in a pliant, elastic sleeve, in which drilling weight is imposed directly from the drill string on the apparatus and its core bit, thereby enabling the drilling weight to be controlled readily from the top of the bore hole.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and la together constitute a section through an apparatus in condition for lowering in a bore hole, the internal portions of the apparatus being disclosed primarily in side elevation, FIG. 1a constituting a lower continuation of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 2 together constitute a combined longitudinal sectional and side elevational view of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and In on an enlarged scale, FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c constituting lower continuations of FIGS. 2, 2a, and 2b, respectively;

FIGS. 3 and 3a are combined longitudinal sectional and side elevational views through the upper portion of the apparatus in tripped condition, for the purpose of commencing the drilling and encasing of a core, FIG. 3a constituting a lower continuation of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are views corresponding to FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 2c, illustrating the apparatus with the parts in their relative positions after a portion of a core has been produced and encased Within the elastic sleeve of the apparatus, FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d being lower continuations of FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b and 4c, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a combined longitudinal sectional and side elevational view of the upper portion of the apparatus, with the elastic sleeve operating mechanism released therefrom for removal through the drill string to the top of the bore hole;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 77 on FIG. 2.

The apparatus A illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be lowered in a bore hole by means of a tubular drill string B, such as a string of drill pipe extending to the top of the hole. 'Upon reaching the bottom of the hole, a core bit 10 at the lower end of the apparatus will produce a core in the formation 'which will move relatively upwardly through the central passage 11 of the core bit to the interior of the apparatus where it will be encased by a contractile rubber sleeve 12 disposed initially on the lower inner tube 13 of the apparatus, but which is adapted to be peeled around the lower end 14 of the inner tube and positioned within the latter.

The apparatus A includes an upper core barrel head 15 secured to the lower end of the string of drill pipe B through a suitable coupling 16. This head is threadedly attached to the upper end of the outer tube 17 of the apparatus, which includes an upper outer tube section 18, the lower end which is threadedly secured to a coupling 19, which, is in turn, threadedly attached to the upper end of an intermediate outer tube section 20, the lower end of which is threadedly attached to another coupling 21, which is, in turn, threadedly secured to the upper end of a lower outer tube section 22, this lower outer tube section being threadedly attached to the core bit 10. The turning efiort and drilling weight is transmitted from the drill pipe B through the outer tube 17 to the core bit 10 for the purpose of rotating the latter, whereby the bit will dig into the bottom of the bore hole and produce the core. The core bit can be of any suitable type as, for example, a diamond core bit having diamond cutting elements embedded in its cutting and reaming faces.

Disposed within the outer tube 17 is an intermediate tube 23 spaced therefrom to form an annular passage 24 therewith. The upper end of this intermediate tube is threadedly attached to a connector 25 threadedly secured to a skirt 26 integral with and depending from the lower coupling 21 of the outer tube portion 17 of the apparatus. Thus, the intermediate tube 23 is secured to the outer tube 17 through the connector 25 and coupling 21. The lower end 27 of the intermediate tube is reduced in diameter and is piloted within the upper portion of the core bit 19, leakage of fluid between the parts being prevented by a suitable side seal ring 28 mounted in the lower end of the intermediate tube and sealing against the core bit 16. Fluid pumped down through the drill string B into the apparatus A will pass through a plurality of elongate side ports 29 in the coupling skirt 26, then flowing downwardly through the annular space 24 between the intermediate 23 and outer tube 17, and through fluid ports 30 in the drill bit 10, discharging through its lower face for the purpose of flushing the cuttings upwardly around the outside of the outer tube 17 and the drill pipe B to the top of the'well bore, and also for the purpose of cleaning and cooling the face of the bit 1G.

The pliant, elastic sleeve 12, which may be made of rubber or rubber-like material, and which is to encase and embrace the core produced by the drill bit 10, is mounted initially upon the exterior of the inner tube 13. The rub- =ber sleeve 12 is of a single length and includes an inner layer 31 lying against the periphery of the inner tube 13, with its lower end engaging an external flange or shoulder 32 at the lower end 14 of the tube. This inner layer is integral with an outer layer '33, formed by folding the rubber sleeve back upon the inner layer, the outer layer ameter of the core produced by the bit 10, so that it is nec-.

essary to stretch the rubber sleeve over the inner tube 13. However, when peeled from this tube, and when disposed around the core, it will contract and embrace the core snugly, retaining it in an intact condition within the tube 13.

The inner tube 13 includes a lower section 36 on which the rubber sleeve 12 is mounted, the upper end of which is threadedly attached to the lower end of an upper inner tube section 37. This upper inner tube section 37 is swivelly carried with respect to the intermediate and outer tubes 23, 17, so that the inner tube will not rotate with the latter during the coring operation, and, as a result, the rubber sleeve 12 and the core will also not rot-ate with the intermediate and outer tubes. As shown, the swivel 38 includes an outer bearing housing 39 threadedly attached to the upper end of the upper inner tube 37 and terminating'in an inwardly directed flange 40. This flange rests upon the upper race 41 of a thrust bearing engaging a series of balls 42 rollable upon a lower race 43 resting upon an external flange 44 of an inner bearing support 45 extending upwardly through the housing flange 49 for threaded connection with the connector 25 secured to the coupling skirt 26. a

The swivel 38 also includes an upper bearing member, consisting of a lower race 46 resting upon the upper end of the housing 39; there being a set of ball bearing ele ments 47 rollable upon this lower race, which, in turn, are engaged by an upper race 48 surrounding. the inner hearing support 45. Above this upper race are a plurality of shims 49 engaged by a lock nut 56 threaded on the inner bearing support 45. Appropriate turning of the lock nut will insure the proper assembly and relationship of all the parts in the swivel 38 with respect to each other, inadvertent turning of the lock nut 50 being prevented by a suitable lock washer 50 The device for pulling the pliant, elastic sleeve 12 upwardly within the inner tube includes an outer clamp member 51 disposed initially within the lower end of the inner tube 13. The lower portion 35 of the pliant, elastic sleeve that passes around thelower end 14 of the inner tube extends upwardly within the lower portion of the outer clamp member 51, the rubber sleeve being secured thereto by an inner clamp tube 52 having its upper end threaded to the outer clamp member 51, such that upward threadingof the clamp tube will force a tapered clamp sleeve 53 mounted thereon against the terminal portion 35 of the rubber sleeve and press the latter against a cornpanion internally tapered surface 54 on the clamp sleeve. The inner clamp sleeve 53 is swivelly mounted with respect to the clamp tube 52 through the intermediary of a row of balls 55, so that the inner clamp'sleeve 53 need not turn as the clamp tube 52 is threaded upwardly within the outer clamp member 51.

The outer clamp member isswivelly connected to the rubber sleeve stn'pper or pulling portion of the apparatus, allowing the latter to turn without correspondingly tending to turn the rubber sleeve 12 and the inner tube 13. The swivel includes an outer bearing housing 56 threadedly secured to the outer clamp member 51 and extending upwardly therefrom, terminating in an inwardly directed flange 57 adapted to bear upon an upper race 58 of an upper ball bearing, this upper race engaging a row of balls 59 resting upon a lower race 66 supported by an external flange 61 of an inner bearing support 62. This external flange 61 also rests upon the upper race 63 of a lower ball hearing, which rides upon a series of balls 64 that engage a lower race 65 resting upon the upper end ofthe outer clamp member 51. By virtue of the ball bearing arrangement described and disclosed, the bearing support 62 can turn within the outerhousing 56, and with respect to the outer clamp member 51, without turning the latter.

The bearing support 62 is threadedly secured to a coupling 66, which is, in turn, threaded ly attached to a stripper tube 67 extending upwardly through the inner tube 13 and through the upper swivel 38. The upper portion of the stripper tube 67 is threadedly secured to a lower valve housing and connector member 63 that is threadedly attached to an upper Valve housing and connector 69, which is, turn, threadedly attached to a tubular latch mandrel 7% on which a latch sleeve 71 is mounted. This latch sleeve includes. a lower circumferentially continuous portion '72 slidable relatively on the mandrel 70, there being latch fingers "i 3 projecting upwardly from the circumferentially continuous portion of the sleeve adapted to be held outwardly by a downwardlytapering retainer portion 74 of the mandrel against a downwardly facing shoulder 75 on the uppercoupling 19, the shoulder 75 and companion terminals 76 of the latch fingers 73 being inclined in an upward and inward direction. The latch sleeve 71 is yieldably urged towards its upward position on the tapered portion 74 of the mandrel by a helical compression spring 77 surrounding the mandrel, with'its lower end engaging a spring seat 78 ion the valve housing and with its upper end engaging the lower end of the latch sleeve 71.

When the mandrel is moved upwardly relative to the latch sleeve, the spring seat 7 Si moved towards the latch sleeve 71 to further compress the spring 77 and place a 7 reduced diameter portion 79 of the mandrel opposite the fingers 73, whereby the latter can shift inwardly away from the shoulder 7 5 and upwardly within the confines of the upper coupling 19, passing upwardly therethrough into the upper section 18 of the outer tube 17. Initially,

the latch fingers 73 are disposed under the shoulder and when so disposed the stripper tube 67 and the lower swivel and clamp device 51-62 attached thereto cannot move upwardly within the inner tube 13 to pull the rubber sleeve 12 around the lower end 14 of the inner tube and upwardly within the latter.

Downward movement of the stripper tube 67 is prevented by a one-way ciutch device 89. This clutch device includes an outer clutch or ratchet housing 81 threadedly attached to the lower end of the inner bearing support 45 or" the upper swivel 38. This housing has an inner surface 82 tapering in a downward direction and adapted to coact with a companion external surface on a split ring 83, the inner surface of which irictionally engages the periphery of the stripper tube 67. A helical compression spring 84 bears against the upper end of the ring 83 and against the bearing support 39, tending to urge the ring downwardly into wedging engagement against the stripper tube 67. Such wedging action is increased in the event the stripper tube tends to move downwardly within the outer clutch housing 81 and the inner tube 13. How-' the 'latch fingers 73 engage the lower coupling shoulder 75 to initially prevent upward movement of the stripper tube 67 within the inner tube 13, whereas the one-way clutch device prevents downward movement of the stripper tube within the inner tube 13, but will have no effect on preventing upward movement of the stripper tube within the inner tube after the latch fingers 73 are released from the shoulder 75.

The stripper device further includes a mechanism that can be releasably coupled to a Wire line W, or similar line, adapted to be lowered through the drill pipe 13. The mechanism which is to be releasably' coupled to the wire line is swivelly attached to the latch mandrel 7 i) and, consequently, to the stripper tube 67 therebelow, so that turning of the stripper tube 67 is not accompanied by turning of the wire line latching mechanism 85. As shown, an outer bearing housing 86 is threadedly attached to the latch mandrel 70 and has an upper inwardly directed flange 87 resting upon the upper race 88 of a ball bearing that rolls upon a series of balls 89 resting on a lower race 90 engaging a flange 91 'of an inner bearing support 92. This inner bearing suppont is threadedly secured to a coupling 93, which is, in turn, threadedly attached to a latch body 94 having one or a plurality of laterally movable latch balls 95 disposed in its openings 96. The balls can extend into a central passage 97 through the latch body to a slight extent, such inward movement being limited by engagement of each ball with a shoulder 98 in the latch body. However, the balls 95 may, under some conditions, move laterally outwardly completely from the central passage 97 when a relatively large internal diameter portion 99 of a latch housing 190 is disposed opposite these balls and around the latch body. Below the large diameter portion 99 of the latch housing is a smaller internal diameter portion 191 providing a retainer surface 102 which, when disposed around the balls, will hold them inwardly of the latch body passage 97, as described hereinbelow.

The housing is urged upwardly of the latch body 94, to locate the retainer surface 1132 around the latch balls 95 by a helical compression spring 103, the upper end of which bears upon the latch housing 199, its lower end resting upon a spring seat 194 prevented from moving downwardly of the body 94 by a suitable retaining device, such as a split snap ring 105 disposed in a peripheral groove 106 in the latch body. Initially, the housing 100 prevented from moving upwardly along the body 94 so as to place the retainer surface 192 around the latch balls 95, by a holding device in the form :of one or a plurality of plungers or pins 107 slidable in radial openings 108 in the housing and having head portions 109 adapted to be disposed in recesses 110 in the exterior of the latch body 94 (FIG. 7). The head portions 199 of the plungers are held initially in the inward position by an encompassing elastic band 111, such as a rubber :or rubber-like O ring, disposed in a peripheral groove 112 in the housing and engaging the outer ends of the plungers or pins 197. When disposed in the inward position, inner projections 113 on the pins, of a smaller diameter than the heads 1G7, extend through longitudinal slots 114 in the latch body and into the central passage 97 through the latter.

The holding plungers 107 can be released from their holding relation, and a wire line connected to the internal stripper portion of the apparatus, by a spear 115 lowered through the tubular string B. This spear is connected to one or a plurality of sinker bars 116 for the purpose of providing adequate weight to insure lowering of the spear through the fluid in the tubular string, the upper end of the sinker bar being suitably attached to the wire line W extending through the drill pipe B to the top of the hole. The lower end of the spear has a rounded guide nose 117 that merges into a cylindrical portion 118, this cylindrical portion having a diameter closely approximating the internal diameter of the latch body 94. Above the cylindrical portion 118, the spear has a reduced diameter portion 119 to form an upwardly facing shoulder 120 adapted to engage the latch balls 95 and couple the spear to the latch body 94.

When the spear 115 is lowered through the drill string B by means of the wire line W, its rounded nose 117 will engage the upper tapered end 121 of the latch body 94 and move within the latter, engaging the inner projections 113 of the holding pins 107, forcing the latter radially outwardly and from the recesses or pockets 110 in the exterior of the latch body, which then permits the spring 103 to shift the housing 190 upwardly along the latch body 94 so as to place the retainer surface 102 of the housing around the latch balls 95. When the nose 1'17 releases the holding plungers or pins 107, the reduced diameter portion 119 of the spear is opposite the balls 95, so that the retainer surface 102 can move and hold the balls inwardly upon the shoulder 120. During lowering of the nose 117 past the balls 95, the latter are free to move outwardly in View of the enlarged internal diameter of the upper portion 99 of the latch housing .100. The spear 115 is then latched to the latch body 94 through the agency of the balls 95, which will then permit the wire line W to "be pulled upwardly relative to the drill pipe B and the inner, intermediate and outer tubes 13, 23, 17 of the coring apparatus for the purpose of relatively shifting the stripper tube 67 upwardly within the apparatus. Actually, the wire line W and stripper tube do not move longitudinally, the drill pipe'and the coring apparatus around the stripper tube moving downwardly.

In the use of the apparatus, the extent of core that can be secured depends upon the total length of the rubber sleeve 12 mounted on the lower inner tube section 36. The initial distance from the upper end of the latch body 94 to the core barrel head 15 will be slightly greater than the length of core to be produced, so that the entire inner stripper portion of the apparatus can move upwardly a proper distance within the tubular portions of the apparatus. The apparatus is run in the bore hole on the tubular string B with the parts in the condition illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 20. When in this condition, the latch fingers 73 are engaged under the shoulder 75 to prevent the internal rubber sleeve stripper mechanism from moving upwardly. The one-way clutch 80 prevents downward movement of the stripper mechanism. During the downward movement of the apparatus with the drill pipe B, the fluid in the well bore can pass upwardly through the lower clamp portion 515 4 of the apparatus, through the stripper tube 67 and then through the valve housing 68, 69. A one-way check valve or ball is provided in the housing, which can move upwardly from engagement with a companion seat 13-1 to permit the fluid to flow upwardly through the stripper tube, but which will prevent fluid from being pumped downwardly through the stripper tube. The fluid will flow upwardly around the ball and through the valve housing 68, 69 into the latch mandrel 70, proceeding upwardly through the swivel 8691, coupling 92 and latch body 94 into the outer tube 17, and from the latter through the core barrel head 15 into the drill pipe B.

In the event it is desired to ream the hole preparatory to commencing the production of the core, the drill pipe B is rotated to rotate the entire apparatus, drilling fluid being pumped downwardly through the pipe. This fluid will pass through the core head 15 into the upper outer tube section 17, and can then flow downwardly through and around the upper portion of the stripper apparatus. It discharges from the valve housing 68, 69 through the ports 132, since the ball valve 130 will engage its seat 131 to prevent the fluid from passing down through the stripper tube 67. The fluid can also pass from the interior of the coupling 93 out through the side ports 133 into the outer tube 17, and also through elongate side ports 134 in the latch housing 109 into the outer tube. The fluid thus discharged into the outer tube will flow downwardly around the exterior of the stripper tube 67 and into the coupling 21, then passing through elongate side ports 29 in the coupling skirt into the annulus 24 between the intermediate and outer tubes 23, 17. The fluid is prevented from passing downwardly along the stripper tube 67 below the skirt 26 by a seal ring 135, such as a lip type seal, having its base clamped between the connector 25 and the coupling skirt 26 and slidably sealing against the periphery of the stripper tube 67. The fluid passing through the annulus 24- between the intermediate and outer tubes will flow through the fluid ports 30 and discharge into the well bore for the purpose of removing cuttings and carrying them upwardly around the apparatus A and pipe B to the top of the hole.

When the bottom of the hole is reached and the coring action is to commence, the spear 115 and sinker bars 116 are lowered on a wire line W through the drill pipe B until the spear enters the latch body 9'4. The nose 117 on the spear will first move the balls 95 laterally out of the way, and as the spear moves further into the latch body, it engages the plungers 107 and shifts them outwardly of the body recesses 110, at which time the smaller diameter portion 119 of the spear will be opposite the latch balls 95. The spring 193 then moves the housing 100 upwardly to the extent determined by engagement of a housing flange 140 with a companion downwardly facing shoulder 141 on the latch body 94-, at which time the retainer surface 102 of the housing is disposed behind the balls 95, the latter being urged into the body passage 97 and above the spear shoulder 120. The spear 115 is now latched or coupled to the latch body 94. This fact can be noted at the top of the well bore by resistance on the wire line W. The wire line is then drawn taut and held in the taut condition so that the coring action can commence; 7

Since the Wire line is disposed in the drill pipe during the coring operation, a suitable swivel (not shown) is provided at the top of the hole through which the wire line will pass, the wire line being packed ch in such swivel. Such swivels are well known in the art, and for that reason are not illustrated in the present case.

With the wire line W held taut, the drill pipe B is then rotated and. drilling weight imposed through the outer barrel 17 on the bit 10. As the outer barrel moves downwardly, its coupling 19 shifts the latch'fingers 73 downwardly along the mandrel 70. As the latch fingers 73 and latch sleeve 71 move downwardly of the mandrel against the spring 77, the fingers 73 come opposite the smaller diameter portion 79 on the mandrel, the tapered shoulder 75 shifts the fingers inwardly free from the shoulder, permitting the coupling 19 to then move downwardly along the fingers 73, such as disclosed in FIG. 3a.

;The coring operation can now proceed. Since the wire 'line W is not'moved, the entire stripper mechanism is prevented from moving downwardly. As' coring proceeds and the core is produced by the core bit 16, it will move relatively upwardly into the core bit and up against the clamp tube 52. The intermediate and inner tubes 23, 13 also move downwardly with the outer tube 17 and the bit 10, the outer layer 33 of the rubber sleeve cuttings and maintaining the bit in a clean condition.

. As has been pointedout above, rotation of the inter- 1 V mediate and outer tubes 23, 17 during the coring operation is not accompanied by rotation of the inner tube 13 and the rubber sleeve 12, as well as the portions connected to the end of the rubber sleeve, because of the per tube 67 is not transmitted to the rubber sleeve and inner tube because of the lower swivel connection 5662 and also because of the upper swivel connection 8692 between the stripper mandrel and the spear latch or coupling mechanism 93.

Coring continues until a desired length of core has been produced and has been encased and embraced by the rubber sleeve portions pulling relatively upwardly into the inner tube 13 and around the core. If, for example, a core ten foot in length is desired, the rubber sleeve will have a corresponding length, and when its end that initially engaged the inner tube shoulder 32 has beenpulled around the lower end 14 of the inner tube and upwardly into the inner tube, a core spring or catcher 150, if one is used, will then grip the lower portion of the core below the rubber sleeve to prevent such portion of the core from dropping out. Actually, the rubber sleeve 12 may have sufficient contractibility as to snugly embrace and hold the entire core and prevent it from dropping from the rubber sleeve, the core spring or catcher 150 being used only a precautionary measure.

When the entire length of core hasbeen produced, the upper end 151 of the latch housing will still be disposed at least slightly below the lower end 152 of the core barrel head 15, which is used to release the spear from the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, upon downward movement of the drill pipe B and outer tube 17 to a sufiicient extent, as after the full length of core has been produced and embraced within the apparatus, the

lower stop shoulder 152 on the core barrel head engages the upper end 151 of the latch housing, shifting the latter downwardly along the latch body 94 against the force of the compression spring 103, and moving the retainer surface 102 of the housing below the balls 95, placing the enlarged diameter portion 99 of the housing opposite the balls. The tapered shoulder 120' on the spear can now shift the balls 95 laterally outwardly, freeing the spear from the latch body 94and permitting the spear and sinker bars 116 to be elevated on the wire line W through the drill pipe B and removed to the top of the hole. The drill pipe B and coring apparatus A can now be removed from the holein the usual manner.

During the time that the apparatus is being pulled out of the hole, the stripper tube 67 is prevented from shift- 7 ing downwardly within the core barrel by the one-way coupling or clutch 80. Any downward moving tendency of the tube 67 moves the ring 83 relatively downwardly within the ratchet housing 81, causing the wedging of the ring against the stripper tube. Accordingly, by pre- 1. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole:

a driving structure adapted to be connected to'the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; and means secured to said pulling means and extending upwardly through the drill string to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the-bore hole as the bit cuts the core andsaid driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

2. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; and means adapted to be lowered through the drill string and to be then secured to said pulling means for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure ind inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore ole.

3. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; latch means on said pulling means; and holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole to prevent downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

4. ln apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; latch means on said pulling means; holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole to prevent downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole; and means for releasing said holding means from said latch means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

5. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending aroundthe lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; and means secured to said pulling means and extending upwardly through the drill string to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

6. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; means for releasing said coupling means; and means secured to said pulling means and extending upwardly through the :drill string to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

7. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward move ment of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; second means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; means for releasing said second coupling means; and means secured to said pulling means and extending upwardly through the drill string to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

8. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting :a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; latch means on said pulling means; and holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole to prevent downward movement of said pulling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

9. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to ll prevent downward movement of said pulling means vrelative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; latch means on said pulling means; holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole to prevent downward movement of said pulling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular 'membermove' downwardly in the bore hole; and means for releasing said holding means from said latch means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

10. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of saidtu-bular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected'to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling rneansto said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; latch means on said pulling means; and holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extend ing to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said coupling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

11. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; latch means on said pulling means; hold- 7 ing means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said coupling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole; and means for releasing said holding means from said latch means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole. a

12. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for-producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic'sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the 'lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first means reto be lowered through the drill strin g into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said second coupling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and. inner tubular member move downwardly in the borehole.

13. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around thelower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pullingmeans in said driving structure; second means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; latch means on said pulling means; holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to'release said second coupling means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole; and means for releasing said holding means from said latch means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

14. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to'be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole;

an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior ofsaid tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; latch means on said pulling means; holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill stringrinto coupling relation to said latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole to prevent downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole as e the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole;.and means on said driving structure engageable with s'aidlatch means to release said latch means from said holding means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

15. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first latch means on said pulling means 'releasably engaging said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structurey and' means secured to said pulling means and extending upwardly through the drill'string to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in' the bore hole, whereby downward movement of said 1 driving structure releases said latch means and allows said driving structure and inner tubular member to move 7 downwardly in the bore hole as the bit cuts the core.

16. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first latch means on said pulling means releasably engaging said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; second latch means on said pulling means; and holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said second latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said first latch means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

17. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first latch means on said pulling means releasably engaging said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; second latch means on said pulling means; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; and holding means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said second latch means and extend id ing to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said first latch means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole.

18. In apparatus adapted to be secured to a tubular drill string for producing and retrieving a core in a bore hole: a driving structure adapted to be connected to the drill string and to a bit for cutting a core in the bore hole; an inner tubular member within and connected to said structure; an elastic sleeve on the exterior of said tubular member extending around the lower end of said tubular member and adapted to move upwardly thereinto around a core extending therewithin; pulling means in said tubular member connected to said sleeve; first latch means on said pulling means releasably engaging said driving structure to prevent upward movement of said pulling means in said driving structure; second latch means on said pulling means; means releasably coupling said pulling means to said driving structure to prevent downward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure but permitting upward movement of said pulling means relative to said driving structure; hold ing means adapted to be lowered through the drill string into coupling relation to said second latch means and extending to the top of the bore hole for preventing downward movement of said pulling means in the bore hole to release said first latch means as the bit cuts the core and said driving structure and inner tubular member move downwardly in the bore hole; and means on said driving structure engageable with said second latch means to re lease said second latch means from said holding means to permit removal of said holding means through the drill string to the top of the bore hole.

Hildebrandt Mar. 8, 1960 Hildebrandt et al. Mar. 8, 1960 

1. IN APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A TUBULAR DRILL STRING FOR PRODUCING AND RETRIEVING A CORE IN A BORE HOLE: A DRIVING STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE DRILL STRING AND TO A BIT FOR CUTTING A CORE IN THE BORE HOLE; AN INNER TUBULAR MEMBER WITHIN AND CONNECTED TO SAID STRUCTURE; AN ELASTIC SLEEVE ON THE EXTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING AROUND THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO MOVE UPWARDLY THEREINTO AROUND A CORE EXTENDING THEREWITHIN; PULLING MEANS IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE; AND MEANS SECURED TO SAID PULLING MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH THE DRILL STRING TO THE TOP OF THE BORE HOLE FOR PREVENTING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PULLING MEANS IN THE BORE HOLE AS THE BIT CUTS THE CORE AND SAID DRIVING STRUCTURE AND INNER TUBULAR MEMBER MOVE DOWNWARDLY IN THE BORE HOLE. 